Villaber eyes back-to-back in Tour of Mindanao race

Defending champion Robert Villaber of Cebu is one step closer from scoring a back-to-back victory in the Tour of Mindanao Classic, which will close today with a 35-kilometer individual time trial (ITT).

Villaber, who opened his bid at fifth place in the event earlier named Tour of Ozamis, came out the overall winner after figuring out prominently in the first two stages.

The opening stage saw former RP mountainbike team member Hilario Ladra at the top with Cebuano pedal pushers Jovanni Delica and Gregorio Gabato, Jr. taking the next two spots in the leg which traced Ozamis City to Dapitan.

When the pack returned to Ozamis yesterday for stage 2, Villaber moved up to second place, finishing behind the younger Jaybop Pagnanawon in the stage which covers 130 kilometers.

Kennedy Ginoo, Villaber's rival in the race for the over-all title, wound up third.

The fourth to the eighth places in the penultimate leg were dominated by Cebuanos in Randy Carbonera, Antonio Nebria, Gregorio Gabato, Jr., Jovanni Delica and Nilo Barbalose.

Julieto Mangupot, also a former RP mountainbike team mainstay and first stage winner Ladra came out ninth and tenth placers, respectively.

The race will close today with an individual time trial (ITT) from Ozamis to Tangub City, covering 35 kilometers with Villaber hoping to pull a huge win. - Caecent O. No-ot